The Texas Politics Project

A diagram of the policy making process

Policy Making and Policy Implementation

Policy making is a cyclical process. It begins in the agenda setting stage with recognition and definition of a significant
public problem and an organized call to government action. In response,
the legislative and bureacratic machinery of government may formulate,
adopt, and implement a strategy for addressing the problem. Analysis of
policy effectiveness in turn often reveals shortcomings in formulation
or implementation or new problems to add to the policy agenda.